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Microbial Biofilms in the Proshchal’naya Karst Cave (Far East, Russia)

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Abstract—

Effect of abiotic (composition of drip and fracture water) and biotic factors (composition and activity of microbial complexes) on biofilm formation in the Proshchal’naya karst cave (Far East, Russia) is reported. The effect of natural infiltration water on the structure of cultured microbial complexes and on the elemental composition of the moonmilk speleothem formed on the walls of the cave was studied. The highest concentrations of Fe and Mn were observed in drip water in spring. Organic compounds were shown to have an important effect on the rates of microbial processes at the water–rock interface, on the moonmilk elemental composition, and on the structure of communities involved in carbonate precipitation. The structure of moonmilk microbial communities was investigated using culture-based techniques and quantitative PCR analysis. Iron bacteria of the genera Rhodoferax and Geothrix, as well as Bacillus species, were identified in moonmilk samples. The microstructure and elemental composition of moonmilk samples from the Proshchal’naya cave were investigated by scanning electron microscopy coupled to X-ray microanalysis. SEM images of the moonmilk mass revealed diverse microstructures and high heterogeneity. Tubular microstructures contained more elements (C, O, Ca, Fe, Mn, Si, Al, and S) than claviform structures consisting of calcium carbonate (СаСО3). The moonmilk binding matrix consisted of thin nanofibers.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to V.O. Shadrin, the leader of the expedition to the Proshchal’naya cave in 2015–2017 and to N.S. Konovalova for scanning electron microscopy and to our colleagues for their help in sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Water and Ecology Problems, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 680000, Khabarovsk, Russia

    L. M. Kondratyeva, O. S. Shadrina & Z. N. Litvinenko

  2. Kosygin Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 680000, Khabarovsk, Russia

    E. M. Golubeva & N. S. Konovalova

Authors
  1. L. M. Kondratyeva
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  2. O. S. Shadrina
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  3. Z. N. Litvinenko
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  4. E. M. Golubeva
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  5. N. S. Konovalova
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Correspondence to Z. N. Litvinenko.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. This article does not contain any studies involving animals or human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Translated by P. Sigalevich

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Kondratyeva, L.M., Shadrina, O.S., Litvinenko, Z.N. et al. Microbial Biofilms in the Proshchal’naya Karst Cave (Far East, Russia). Microbiology 89, 532–541 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261720050124

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261720050124

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